insomnia, ship locations and no wifi games?

[Beth8649]

Where does one go on the ship at 3am, besides the Casino? We are sailing on HAL, if that matters. Where can one find food and or soda pop? Do the teen arcades stay open? Is there a charge for the arcade games?

 

I'm looking for the best phone game apps that don't require the Internet. I found this page: http://stylecaster.com/best-offline-games-and-apps/

It lists 7.

 

I have Spider Solitare and Flow Free, Blendoku (possibly no hints w/out Internet), 1010, 2048, Pictorial, Monument Valley, Insanity, BJ101 free (a black jack trainer), and a logic puzzle app.

 

Can anyone suggest some other really good game apps that don't require the Internet for insomnia nights?

 

Also, any really good suspense mystery type novels in ebook form?

[paul929207]

As to books, there are many books by Grisham, Baldacci, and others that are available in Kindle format. I download them from my local library.

[cb at sea]

Since you have insomnia, you may want to consider a real book....studies show that the blue/white light from a computer or e-reader screen actually makes insomnia WORSE! Paperbacks weigh much less than a hardback book.

 

You may go pretty much anywhere on the ship. Going up to the open pool deck or above and staring at a dark sea may help you get sleepy.

[nolatravelgirl]

Candy Crush

Soda Crush

Cookie Jam

Interlocked

Cookie Jam

 

All of these can be played offline, but like others have said I wouldn't use games as a way to fight insomnia as it is just making your mind more active. Ditto for drinking sugary beverages.

 

Have you talked to your physician about your insomnia and what some alternatives may be. If your intent is to stay up through the insomnia then games are great, but if you are looking to get back to sleep then games are not going to help.

 

I see that you are on the Westerdam 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise and are from Illinois. You shouldn't be dealing with a big time change and hopefully you are planning lots of activities during the day that will make you tired at night so you won't have to deal with insomnia.

Edited July 24, 2015 by nolatravelgirl

[Beth8649]

Thank you, NolaTravelGirl, Cb At Sea, & Paul929207!

 

 

Unfortunately, from studying for promotional exams in my youth, I have a very bad allergy to most printed materials. After cataract surgery, the allergy became full blown and I was on super strong steroid eye drops for a year. Now, it's subsided a bit 3-4 good days b4 bad days and is controlled by Padaday eye drops and occassionally Visine (which is bad for long-term usage).

 

30+ years of midnight shifts and 8+ years retired and I still battle to sleep at night. Plus, it's freedom time b/c Mom will be asleep with Ita in the room. I do have insomnia Meds that I take, but they don't always work. ( I refuse to take Ambien or the addictive ones. Doxepin, an antidepressant, works both as an antidepressant and a med to keep you asleep vs restless cat-napping. I do use doxepin)

 

I have a few ebooks on my phone. Now with all the co-authoring, I'm not sure which new mysteries to pick. I have a Mary Higgins Clark ebook to read Mom. But, I might buy and DL the audio book, if my jam speaker fits in our carry-on after packing. Anyone know of any real good new ones that she's written (for mom)? I used to like Patterson, but he's very hit or miss these days.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Beth8649

[SadieN]

Many card games are offline. Phase 10 and Skip Bo. The Pogo app has several games. Panda Pop is addictive.

[SuiteTraveler]

Venice Mystery - it's a Mahjong type game I've been playing it again and again for over 5 years. Very relaxing with tons of levels and you can also increase the level of challenge.

 

Earlier this year, I was reading books about Robert Durst - very interesting books on this man. I first read about him when he was on trial for murder in Galveston, TX. He was acquitted. Then I watched the series "The Jinx" (which you can download to your tablet - it is well worth watching this series if you have not already.) "The Jinx" led to Durst's current arrest. The whole story is so strange and fascinating, it is like reading a suspense novel, except that this is a true story. These are the books and I would suggest reading them in this order:

 

"Without a Trace" by Marion Collins about the disappearance of Durst's first wife.

And after you read the above book, then watch the movie

"All Good Things" which is a fictionalized account of the above true story.

 

The story continues in this book:

"Murder of a Mafia Daughter" by Cathy Scott

Durst is currently under arrest for the murder of Susan Berman, a writer that he had known and was allegedly best friends with since college. Susan Berman wrote these two best selling autobiographical books:

"Easy Street"

"Lady Las Vegas"

and this fictional book:

"Fly Away Home"

All of which are well worth reading

 

Then read:

A Deadly Secret by Matt Birkbeck

 

There will soon be another book about Durst by Jeanne Pirro. All I can say is watch "The Jinx", read the books, watch the movie "All Good Things" examine the evidence and come to your own conclusions.

 

These books reminded me of the Ripley books by Patricia Highsmith - which although these books were written in the 1950's are still excellent reading today. Ripley, of course is a fictitious character, whereas Robert Durst is a real living person. These are the Ripley books in the order in which they were published and should be read:

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Ripley Under Ground

Ripley's Game

The Boy Who Followed Ripley

Ripley Under Water

 

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" was made into a fantastic movie of the same name starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett and Seymour Hoffman in 1999. If you have not seen this movie, it is well worth downloading. "The Talented Mr. Ripley" was filmed previously in the 1960's movie "Purple Noon" starring Alain Delon which is available online at Amazon.

 

As to the food and soda pop question, on most ships there is usually some food available through room service 24x7. There may be a section open somewhere on HAL such as pizza or the deli. You would be better off posting that question on the HAL board. As to soda pop, you do know that contains caffeine and that may be why you are not sleeping? At any rate, on most ships, it is in your mini-bar in cans. You can also buy it at any bar that is open and there are some bars that stay open late. If the food available is in a venue (not just the buffet) you can also buy it there. But ask this question on the HAL board here on Cruise Critic.

Edited July 24, 2015 by SuiteTraveler

[morbihan]

I am not an insomniac. I just don't sleep for long.

 

I am usually up by 4.00 and I go and have a coffee in the cafe then do an hours walk around the jogging track. You will be surprised how many other people are up.

 

There is the entry into the ports and the sunrise . . Best time of the day.

 

Of course, the excercise is done so I can feel smug all day:D

 

I like Candy Soda as you can win on it. Six months on the same game on Candy Crush! I like Pou too:p

[Beth8649]

Thank you again, Suite Traveler & Morbihan, great suggestions!

 

Suite Traveler, you could write a college syllabus. If I showed my kids your post, they would say that you & I were a match made in Heaven. I have dissected & analyzed things on other topics exactly like you did relative to Durst.

 

All the new games! Wow! Thanks! I'm going to check them out now.

 

And, Morbihan, great idea about the running track! i wouldn't have thought about that as an option.

[SuiteTraveler]

I also have the games related to The Walking Dead - you are a survivor and have to solve clues and fight to avoid zombies. They are pretty engrossing. Another good one is Disney's Free Fall - about Maleficent - but it's a match 3. Nice music and graphics in that one. Juice Jam is fun, too!

 

Do you play myVegas on Facebook? Just asking because you get a BOGO on RCCL with your myVegas rewards.

[Beth8649]

That Venice marjong game is perfect!!! I love marjong and I never played a variation like this one. Super fun! Thanks!!!

[SuiteTraveler]

Beth, glad you like it! As you go through it, there are different tile sets and then different levels of play when you restart the game so it keeps it interesting.

[SuiteTraveler]

Also wanted to mention the other book I'm getting ready to read is The Girl on the Train. It's a suspense thriller type and gets great reviews.

[Langley Cruisers]

Also wanted to mention the other book I'm getting ready to read is The Girl on the Train. It's a suspense thriller type and gets great reviews.

 

I waited over 2 months for that book from the library. There were 202 holds on it before me! Ooof!

[Vampire Parrot]

Sometimes I'll wake up at 3am and can't easily get back to sleep. If I'm on a ship then I always do the same thing - throw on some clothes, go down to the promenade, and stroll the deck.

 

At that time of the day the only people I see are crew, usually security folks on fire watch, always good for a chat :)

 

I enjoy looking at the dark sea at night, listening to the waves, and when I get back to my cabin I never had trouble getting back to sleep.

 

And if I feeling a bit hungry I'll hit the buffet - pizza if I'm hungry, otherwise just a muffin... or two.. .:)

 

So.... don't limit yourself to the sort of things you would do in a hotel - you're at sea, take advantage of that!

Edited July 24, 2015 by Vampire Parrot

[Scrapnana]

Thank you, NolaTravelGirl, Cb At Sea, & Paul929207!

 

 

Unfortunately, from studying for promotional exams in my youth, I have a very bad allergy to most printed materials. After cataract surgery, the allergy became full blown and I was on super strong steroid eye drops for a year. Now, it's subsided a bit 3-4 good days b4 bad days and is controlled by Padaday eye drops and occassionally Visine (which is bad for long-term usage).

 

30+ years of midnight shifts and 8+ years retired and I still battle to sleep at night. Plus, it's freedom time b/c Mom will be asleep with Ita in the room. I do have insomnia Meds that I take, but they don't always work. ( I refuse to take Ambien or the addictive ones. Doxepin, an antidepressant, works both as an antidepressant and a med to keep you asleep vs restless cat-napping. I do use doxepin)

 

I have a few ebooks on my phone. Now with all the co-authoring, I'm not sure which new mysteries to pick. I have a Mary Higgins Clark ebook to read Mom. But, I might buy and DL the audio book, if my jam speaker fits in our carry-on after packing. Anyone know of any real good new ones that she's written (for mom)? I used to like Patterson, but he's very hit or miss these days.

 

Has your mother tried any of Carol Higgins Clark's books? They are funnier and more lighthearted mysteries than her mother's. Also, the two of them have written a few books together that are quite good.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Since you have insomnia, you may want to consider a real book....studies show that the blue/white light from a computer or e-reader screen actually makes insomnia WORSE! Paperbacks weigh much less than a hardback book.

 

 

It is true that the light from a backlit screen like a computer or tablet will make insomnia worse, but something like an e-ink Kindle is fine, even the PaperWhite with the built in light as long as the light isn't turned up too brightly. And, of course, you can have several books on your Kindle so you never run out of something to read.

 

I've found I am able to go back to sleep much more quickly using my Kindle and an LED booklight, rather than a paper book with a regular bedside light. I use a larger font size on my Kindle so I can read it easily in dim light.

[Kartgv]

DH and I have both had insomnia for years - his problem was falling asleep, mine was staying asleep. We had both tried melatonin years ago and it did nothing, but decided to give it another try after reading that our bodies reduce natural melatonin production as we get older. This time it made a significant difference for both of us! Talk to your doctor, but ours had no objections to our trying it. We're both sleeping much better and feeling generally better.

 

When I do have problems falling asleep, I find that a simple solitaire game, like Klondike, on my Kindle (white screen, not blue) puts me to sleep in about 10 minutes. The key for me is a repetitive (relatively boring) game, as opposed to more exciting game, which results in more adrenalin production.

 

I also avoid more exciting mystery/action books at bedtime - stick to something less stimulating. For years, I had a hard copy of "The Name of the Rose" on my nightstand - just a few pages inevitably put me to sleep. Boring, but just enough interest that I wanted to continue reading to find out how it ended.

[Owlie]

Where does one go on the ship at 3am, besides the Casino? We are sailing on HAL, if that matters. Where can one find food and or soda pop? Do the teen arcades stay open? Is there a charge for the arcade games?

 

I'm looking for the best phone game apps that don't require the Internet. I found this page: http://stylecaster.com/best-offline-games-and-apps/

It lists 7.

 

I have Spider Solitare and Flow Free, Blendoku (possibly no hints w/out Internet), 1010, 2048, Pictorial, Monument Valley, Insanity, BJ101 free (a black jack trainer), and a logic puzzle app.

 

Can anyone suggest some other really good game apps that don't require the Internet for insomnia nights?

 

Also, any really good suspense mystery type novels in ebook form?

 

Hey, Beth! I think that you've probably been on your cruise but I wanted to reply anyways. Regarding the blue light - I use an anti blue-light screen protector for my ipad. It's just like a screen protector except that it blocks the uv blue light. You could also get anti blue-light protective glasses for cheap on Amazon.

 

The apps that I like to use that don't require an Internet connection:

 

1. Get Z

2. Two Dots

3. Words with friends (you can play the computer - same with

4. Word Chums

5. Hexiled

6. Angry Birds 2

7. Word Brain.

 

I find that Hexiled really helps me relax when I have pain-somnia.

 

Author recommendation: Meredith Allard, Michael Palmer, Anne Rice, Elizabeth Hoyt - authors of the most recent books that I've read. :)

[iheartbda]

OP, too bad you weren't sailing a week earlier. I sat and watched them put up holiday decorations at 3AM on one of my insomniac nights. I t was fun to watch.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Since you have insomnia, you may want to consider a real book....studies show that the blue/white light from a computer or e-reader screen actually makes insomnia WORSE!

 

 

I'm finding my new Kindle Voyage which has a built-in light layer (it's not backlit) on a low setting (8) helps me sleep better.

 

I agree with those that say it is better not to play games.

 

Also choose books that are light reads, without too much drama or suspense.

Edited December 8, 2015 by OzKiwiJJ

[jayne62]

I'm usually awake between 3-4 am. I head up to food court and get a cuppa then out on promenade deck for walk and wait for the sun to come up. Sometimes I take my kindle with books to read but mostly its just relaxing to be out there in dark watching the ocean. The crew are around and you'll get to meet the other early risers. its the best part of the day :)

[calliopecruiser]

Another option is audiobooks -- the Audible app has a timer, and then I turn the screen off while listening to the book. I can set the timer for a length of time, or to the end of a chapter.

[LuckyStar]

I have insomnia issues but find I sleep really well on the boat. Melatonin works great for me most of the time but I have of late been listening to books on my phone while I go to sleep.

[SPacificbound]

 

Also, any really good suspense mystery type novels in ebook form?

 

Here are just a few of the authors of suspense mystery type that I have on my iPad from Amazon Kindle ebooks.

 

John Sanford

Lee Child

Michael Connelly

Jonathon Kellerman

John Grisham

Robert Crais

Faye Kellerman

Harlan Coben

Nelson Demille

David Baldacci

 

I read with it white on black. The black on white is too stimulating.

Edited December 11, 2015 by SPacificbound